Pull tab and method of manufacturing a pull tab

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016007692-A1
Application number	US-201414325483-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 8, 2014
Priority date	Jul 8, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pull tab for zippers is formed by a cord having a cord retaining member attached to one end of the cord and a socket in the top surface of the cord retaining member, and a plug attached to other end of the cord. The plug has a shape corresponding to the shape of the socket, so that the plug can fit securely within the socket, thus, forming a loop with the cord. A slidable locking device is placed around the cord, the locking device having an interior cavity corresponding to the shape of the cord retaining member, such that placing the plug into the socket and sliding the locking device over the cord retaining member locks the second end of the cord to the cord retaining member. In a method for manufacturing the pull tab, the plug and cord retaining member are continuously overmolded in one piece on a length of the cord, and then cut into pieces to form completed pull tabs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A pull tab, comprising:
a cord having a first and a second end; a cord retaining member attached to the first end of the cord, the cord retaining member having a proximal end, a distal end, a top surface, and a bottom surface; a securing device attached to the second end of the cord, said securing device adapted to be connected to the cord retaining member; and a slidable locking device disposed around the cord, said locking device having an interior cavity corresponding to the shape of the cord retaining member, such that placing the plug into the socket and sliding the locking device over the cord retaining member locks the securing device to the cord retaining member.

2 . The pull tab according to claim 1 , wherein the cord is a woven cord and the cord retaining member and securing device are molded onto the woven cord.

3 . The pull tab according to claim 1 , wherein the cord retaining member comprises a socket in a top surface of the cord retaining member, and the securing device is a plug that fits within the socket.

4 . The pull tab according to claim 3 , wherein the socket extends through the proximal end of the cord retaining member.

5 . The pull tab according to claim 3 , further comprising a slot in the cord retaining member, said slot extending through the distal end of the cord retaining member and being connected to the socket, said slot being dimensioned to accommodate the cord, such that the second end of the cord is locked by placing the cord through the slot and placing the plug in the socket such that the second end of the cord extends in an opposite direction from the first end of the cord.

6 . The pull tab according to claim 5 , further comprising a channel in the bottom surface of the cord retaining member, said channel accommodating the cord when the slidable locking device is slid over the cord retaining member.

7 . The pull tab according to claim 3 , wherein the plug has a plurality of grooves and the socket has a plurality of protrusions corresponding to the grooves.

8 . The pull tab according to claim 3 , wherein the plug and socket have a trapezoid shape.

9 . A method for manufacturing a pull tab, comprising:
providing a mold having a mold cavity; feeding a cord into the mold so that the cord extends through the mold cavity; injecting mold material into the mold cavity to form a molded component around the cord; removing the cord with the molded component from the mold; and cutting the molded component and the cord into pull tabs at a designated cutting point on each molded component; wherein each molded component is comprised of a securing device and a cord retaining member, wherein cutting the molded component at the designated cutting point creates a pull tab formed by a length of the cord having a securing device at one end and a cord retaining member at the other end, and wherein the pull tab is assembled by connecting the securing device to the cord retaining member so that the cord forms a loop.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of pulling the cord with a pulling fixture to transport the molded component from the mold cavity to a cutting location.

11 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the step of feeding the cord through the mold occurs continuously and automatically and the molded components are continuously molded on the cord in successive molding steps.

12 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the step of cutting takes place using a heated knife.

13 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the cord is fed in from a roll.

14 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
placing a slidable locking device on the cord, the slidable locking device having an inner cavity corresponding to a shape of the cord retaining member, and sliding the slidable locking device over the cord retaining member after the securing device is connected with the cord retaining member to lock the securing device to the cord retaining member.

15 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the cord retaining member comprises a socket in a top surface thereof, and the securing device comprises a plug that fits within the socket.

Assignees

• Duraflex Hong Kong Ltd

Inventors

• Chen Te Chien

Classifications

• A44B19/42

  Making by processes not fully provided for in one other class, e.g. B21D53/50, B21F45/18, B22D17/16, B29D5/00 {(attaching closure devices, e.g. slide fasteners, to bags B31B70/813; making package opening by applying or incorporating profile strips, e.g. for reclosable bags B65B61/188)} · CPC title

• A44B19/262 Primary

  Pull members; Ornamental attachments for sliders · CPC title

• F16G11/00

  Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes (attaching ropes or cables to lift cars or cages B66B7/08, to winch drums or barrels B66D1/34; ground anchors E02D5/00; anchoring devices for prestressed members E04C5/00; rope clamps in earth drilling E21B19/12) · CPC title